Walking among the quaint roads of the Stonington Borough has always been a fun and enjoyable experience for anyone interested in historic houses and various kinds of architecture.
On Friday, June 20 and Saturday, June 21, walking through the borough will also be fun for green thumbs and garden enthusiasts as the Stonington Garden Club hosts “Gardens By The Sea,” a walking tour of 10 of the most exclusive private gardens of the Stonington Borough. The tour, which takes place every three years and always features different gardens, began in 1992 and was such a success that thousands now come during the two-day event to see behind the high gates and into some of the borough’s most beautiful properties.
The tour will begin at Wadawanuck square, the site of the former Wadawanuck Hotel, which was a popular stay-over spot in the 1800s for people traveling between Boston and New York. A nearby historic house hosts the first garden on the tour where tea and cookies will be served to all participants. Tour participants will be greeted by garden club members at every stop as they walk to each of the 10 gardens.
The tour will feature gardens that range from sprawling, historically significant gardens to smaller romantic gardens. Two shuttle buses will take tourists out to Salt Acres and to the Stonington Community children’s garden.
Stonington Garden Club member Carole Barnard said she is expecting thousands to show for the event.
“Some of these gardens will really take your breath away,” Barnard said. “Some of them just unfold right before your eyes as you enter the property, it’s just gorgeous.”
One of the stops on the tour features three houses that were once part of one large property owned by Samuel Denison in the 18th century. The original house, built in 1789, features terraced gardens complete with various architectural features and a reflection pool with a stone walk. The carriage house, which was converted into a home in the early 1900s, features a small teahouse complete with original wall paper dating back to the 1840s. And just down the hill sits the third house, built as a wedding gift for a previous owner’s daughter in the early 1900s.
The tour will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days and will proceed rain or shine. For tickets ($25 in advance, $30 on tour dates) or more information, call 535-3356.